MARTIN KRAWIEC - poloniasf.orgpoloniasf.org/english/images/nop200707s05.pdfJohn Paul Center in May....
Transcript of MARTIN KRAWIEC - poloniasf.orgpoloniasf.org/english/images/nop200707s05.pdfJohn Paul Center in May....
Page 5 News of Polonia Pasadena, California July 2007
MARTIN KRAWIEC
ATTORNEY AT LAW
ETHICAL - EXPERIENCED
Accidents
Business
Civil Litigation
Estate Planning
Personal Injury
Probate
Real Estate
Trusts
Wills
(714) 871-7331
Polish American Congress Southern California Division
Invites you to attend our meeting
Sunday, September 23 - 12:30 P.M.
Pope John Paul Center
3999 Rose Drive - Yorba Linda
Non-members of the
Polish American Congress
are welcome to attend our meetings
to see the many projects we have achieved
and are working on for Polonia.
Information: (626) 577-9797
Polish Americans join
fight to allow Nativity
Scenes in New York Contact: Frank Milewski (718) 263-2700 - Ext. 105
With Christmas 2007 exactly six months
away, New York City’s Christians opened
their campaign against the prohibition of
Nativity scenes during the holiday season.
At the invitation of the well-known Irish
organization, the Ladies of the Ancient
Order of Hibernians, the Polish American
Congress entered the fray with its
participation in a demonstration and press
conference on the steps of City Hall on
Sunday, June 23rd.
Its purpose was to support the efforts of
City Council Member Tony Avella of
Bayside on behalf of the Christmas displays.
Frank Milewski, president of the
Downstate N.Y. Division of the Polish
American Congress, represented New
York’s Polish American community at the
event. Another participant was William A.
Donohue, president of the Catholic League
for Religious and Civil Rights, a longtime
friend of the Polish American Congress.
At the press conference, Mr. Avella
announced his plans to introduce a City
Council resolution that calls upon the N.Y.
City Department of Education (DOE) to
amend their holiday display policy for
public elementary and secondary schools to
include a Nativity scene or Creche.
Currently, DOE’s policy allows a Jewish
Menorah or Islamic Star and Crescent to be
displayed during the winter holiday season
so long as they are displayed together.
“My resolution is purely about inclusion,”
stated Avella. “The Menorah and Star and
Crescent are religious symbols. By adding a
Nativity scene/Creche to the holiday
display, Christianity will receive equal
representation with other religious faiths
during the holiday season.”
Bill Donohue of the Catholic League
added, “The Second Circuit Court of
Appeals never said that a Nativity scene
could not be displayed alongside a Menorah
and a Crescent Star (though schools could
elect to substitute a secular symbol like the
Christmas tree). Therefore, it is up to the
New York City authorities to either practice
inclusion and allow Creches to be displayed
or practice discrimination and deny them.”
As head of an organization with many
members who lived in Poland when the
Soviet-imposed Communist regime put on
all sorts of restrictions on religious
practices, the PAC’s Milewski believes “this
is a fight we have to be in.”
When the Communists attempted to force
everyone to celebrate the Christmas season
“with a tribute to a phony snowman they
called Father Frost, the people of Poland
gave the whole idea an icy chill and never
budged. We need to have that same
determination over here,” he said. ❒
__________
Polish American
Congress of S. Cal.
Holds Election of
Officers By: Betsy Cepielik
The Polish American Congress of
Southern California held its annual meeting
and election of officers on June 27. The
meeting was held at the Szarotka Retirement
Home in Los Angeles.
Richard Wideryński conducted the
meeting. After serving six years as
President, he declined another term. Newly
elected officers are President – Marty
Cepielik, VP – American Agenda – Rik
Suligowski Fox, Polish Agenda and
Membership Chair – Michael Dutkowski,
Political Action – Richard Wideryński,
Legal/Welfare and Social – Dariusz Garstka,
Ways, Means/Events – Henry Siłka, assisted
by Dr. Maya Trochimczyk. The National
Directors are Marty Cepielik, Frank
Kosowicz, Michael Dutkowski, and
alternate Andrzej Prokopczuk. There was a
desire expressed to have a woman Director
next year.
There were reports given by the officers.
The past year was a very successful one.
Andrzej Prokopczuk reported on the very
successful Board of Directors meeting held
in San Diego in October 2006. Kudos were
given to Rik Fox for his initiative in
including the Polish Community in the
Glendale Unity Fest in October 2006 and for
his famous Suligowski Regiment. Frank
Kosowicz was congratulated for his
worldwide recognition for his work in the
aid to the Poles in the Former USSR.
Michael Dutkowski was thanked for his
Proud to Be Polish Festival held at the Pope
John Paul Center in May. Lela Ciecek was
lauded for her production of the Warsaw
Uprising by American students. It was
mentioned that Polonia needs to include
itself in more “mainstream” events outside
of the Polish community.
Another successful PAC event of the past
year was the Christmas Party and awards
presentation in December 2006.
Nominations for Awards presentations at the
2007 Christmas Party will be made in
September. The Constitution Ball, held for
the first time in May 2007 was a most
memorable event, and plans are underway
for 2008 to continue this. This was the
third year of the Polish Mass at the
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los
Angeles (with the cooperation of the Polish
Consulate.) Teresa Kumor was recognized
for her donation of flowers for this event.
The PAC plans to sponsor even more events
in the coming year.
Congratulations to Richard Wideryński for
his six years of devoted service to the PAC
of Southern California. In addition to his
duties as the Chairman of the Political
Action Committee, he will be the Chairman
of the Annual Mass at the Cathedral in Los
Angeles and continue to pursue his plans for
the Paderewski Monument at USC. ❒
Ma and Pa
Seniors Luncheon
By: Robert M. Jadach
The Polish National Alliance (PNA)
Seniors Mom and Dad Luncheon was
enjoyed by over 175 guests, Officers and
members on Tuesday, June 26, at the
Mayfield Banquet Hall in Chicago, Illinois.
PNA Director and Seniors Moderator
Arthur Trybek opened the program
welcoming those attending. Director Marian
Grabowski delivered a toast thanking the
seniors for their support of the group. Vice
President Teresa Abick gave the invocation
before dinner. The delicious lunch was
served while guests were being entertained
by the Joe Pat Orchestra.
Vice President Paul Odrobina was
introduced after lunch to emcee the
program. He introduced the PNA National
Officers, current and former Directors and
Commissioners, and thanked the many
volunteers that help out at the regular
seniors’ meetings.
Mr. Odrobina called upon fellow officers
Z. John Ordon and Casimir Musielak to
select the “Mother of the Year” and “Father
of the Year”. This year Terry Pietraszewski
was chosen as our honored Mother receiving
a beautiful bouquet of roses in a crystal
vase, and Joseph Całka was selected as the
honored Father receiving a bottle of special
refreshment. President Frank Spula also
spoke to the attendees. Vice President
Odrobina presented Richard Piasecki a
special gift of recognition, a fine bottle of
wine to thank him for his twenty years of
service assisting at the Seniors’ meetings.
Dignitaries who were introduced by Vice
President Paul Odrobina at the luncheon
included: President Frank Spula, Vice
President Teresa Abick, Secretary Z. John
Ordon, Treasurer Casimir Muielak, PNA
Directors Marian Grabowski, Arthur Trybek
and Loret ta Chabalowski, PNA
Commissioners, Chester Krupa (District 12)
and Stanley Bogobowicz (District 13),
Former Directors Helen Orawiec and
Florence and Stanley Stawiarski, Former
Commissioners, Anna Kokoszka and Joseph
Całka, and volunteers included; Joan
Oskorep, Robert Jadach, Stella Jozwik,
Helen Orawiec, Steve Piwowarczyk,
Josephine Witek, Florence Jadach, Irene
Spiewak, Loretta Waltee and Eleanore
Jasiokowski.
The remainder of the afternoon, the
seniors socialized and danced. ❒
__________